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Communications and outreach assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a communications and outreach assistant. Communications and outreach assistants usually study psychology, business, or communication. 69% of communications and outreach assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 823 real communications and outreach assistant resumes to see exactly what communications and outreach assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for communications and outreach assistants are the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin Colleges.

There are also many online communications and outreach assistant courses to help get the education required to be a communications and outreach assistant.

There are certain communications and outreach assistant certifications that you should consider. These communications and outreach assistant certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified in Public Health (CPH).

What education do you need to become a communications and outreach assistant?

What degree do you need to be a communications and outreach assistant?

The most common degree for communications and outreach assistants is bachelor's degree, with 69% of communications and outreach assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 11% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a communications and outreach assistant?

You should major in psychology to become a communications and outreach assistant. 13% of communications and outreach assistants major in psychology. Other common majors for a communications and outreach assistant include business and communication.

Most common colleges for communications and outreach assistants

Communications and outreach assistants often get their degrees at University of Wisconsin Colleges, University of Colorado at Boulder, and University of Arizona. Here are the most common colleges for communications and outreach assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Communications and outreach assistant common collegePercentages
University of Wisconsin Colleges6.58%
University of Colorado at Boulder6.58%
University of Arizona6.58%
Marshall University5.26%
University of Iowa5.26%

Best majors for communications and outreach assistants

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology12.9%
2Business12.9%
3Communication10.8%
4Biology6.5%
5Public Relations6.5%

Best colleges for communications and outreach assistants

The best colleges for communications and outreach assistants are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Boston University.

A communications and outreach assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for communications and outreach assistants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become communications and outreach assistants.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

4. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

9. University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,167

Enrollment

30,279

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

20 best online courses for communications and outreach assistants

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Top 10 most affordable universities for communications and outreach assistants

The most affordable schools for communications and outreach assistants are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for communications and outreach assistants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for communications and outreach assistants.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for communications and outreach assistants

The hardest universities for communications and outreach assistants to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for communications and outreach assistants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for communications and outreach assistants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for communications and outreach assistants

The easiest schools for communications and outreach assistants to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, bluefield college, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a communications and outreach assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for communications and outreach assistants.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

9. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

10. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

Average communications and outreach assistant salary by education level

According to our data, communications and outreach assistants with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $60,663 annually. Communications and outreach assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $56,249.
Communications and outreach assistant education levelCommunications and outreach assistant salary
Master's Degree$60,663
High School Diploma or Less$50,779
Bachelor's Degree$56,249
Some College/ Associate Degree$51,063

Communications and outreach assistant education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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